Penobscot Financial Advisors

Penobscot Financial Advisors Penobscot Financial Advisors is a wealth management firm that is valued for its comprehensive approa

Penobscot Financial Advisors is a wealth management firm that is valued for its comprehensive approach and commitment to our clients.

Should you retire at 55 or wait until 65? The financial gap between those two decisions is larger than most people expec...
09/04/2026

Should you retire at 55 or wait until 65? The financial gap between those two decisions is larger than most people expect.
Retiring a decade early means 10 more years of drawing from your portfolio, 10 fewer years of contributions, and a healthcare bridge to cover before Medicare kicks in at 65. On the flip side, waiting too long has its own costs — years you won't get back.
Chapter 1 of our Retirement Guide breaks down what to weigh on both sides so you can make the decision with clarity, not anxiety.
Read it here: https://penobscotfa.com/chapter-1-am-i-ready-to-retire/

A question worth asking before you retire: where does your income come from in a year the market falls 25%? If the answe...
08/20/2026

A question worth asking before you retire: where does your income come from in a year the market falls 25%? If the answer is "the portfolio," that is worth a closer look.

Chapter 4 of our retirement guide covers building income that does not depend on good timing. Check it out here: https://penobscotfa.com/chapter-4-building-a-retirement-income-plan/

Divorced after a marriage of 10 years or more? You may still have a claim on your former spouse's Social Security record...
08/17/2026

Divorced after a marriage of 10 years or more? You may still have a claim on your former spouse's Social Security record. They are not notified, and their benefit is not reduced.
Our latest blog covers what marital status changes and what it does not. Check it out here: https://penobscotfa.com/how-marital-status-impacts-social-security/

Not all financial advisors are created equal and the difference often comes down to how they're paid.Fee-only. Fee-based...
07/29/2026

Not all financial advisors are created equal and the difference often comes down to how they're paid.
Fee-only. Fee-based. Commission-based. These terms sound similar, but they mean very different things for you as a client.
Our blog breaks down the distinctions so you can make an informed choice about who's guiding your financial future.
Read it here: https://penobscotfa.com/advisors-fee-based-advisors-and-fee-only-advisors-2/

Who is PFA and What Do You Do? 🤔We get this question a lot — and we're happy to answer!We're a Maine-based, fee-only fid...
07/17/2026

Who is PFA and What Do You Do? 🤔

We get this question a lot — and we're happy to answer!

We're a Maine-based, fee-only fiduciary firm that's been helping people achieve their financial goals for over 20 years. No commissions. No product sales. Just honest, transparent advice.

Watch our team explain what we do and how we work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyAxeKmznBY

We just published Chapter 3 of the Penobscot Financial Advisors Retirement Planning Guide, focused on the question we ge...
07/10/2026

We just published Chapter 3 of the Penobscot Financial Advisors Retirement Planning Guide, focused on the question we get asked more than any other: when should I claim Social Security?

Claim at 62 for 70% of your benefit, at full retirement age for 100%, or wait until 70 for up to 124%.

The right answer depends on your health, your spouse's earnings history, the other income sources in your plan, and how claiming coordinates with tax-efficient withdrawals from the rest of your portfolio. For the affluent professionals we work with, the answer usually leans toward waiting. But there are real situations where claiming earlier is the right call, and running the numbers is the only way to know which is yours.

If your claiming decision is still ahead of you, check out Chapter 3 of our Retirement Guide! - https://penobscotfa.com/chapter-3-when-should-you-claim-social-security/

The 4% rule is one of the most widely cited guidelines in retirement planning. And for good reason: historically, withdr...
06/26/2026

The 4% rule is one of the most widely cited guidelines in retirement planning. And for good reason: historically, withdrawing 4% of your portfolio annually has a 90%+ success rate over 30 years.

But here's the thing: your retirement isn't a historical average. The 4% rule assumes fixed withdrawals regardless of market conditions. That means in a year when your portfolio drops 30%, you're still pulling the same dollar amount. If that drop happens in years one through three of your retirement, it can permanently impair your portfolio's ability to recover.

Dynamic withdrawal strategies offer a more nuanced approach. They adjust your spending based on market performance, pulling slightly less in down years and more in strong years.

The result? Greater flexibility, longer portfolio life, and less anxiety during volatile markets. For complex households with multiple income sources, tax considerations, and varying spending needs, a one-size-fits-all rule rarely fits. That's where personalized planning makes the difference.

Check out our new blog! https://penobscotfa.com/the-4-rule-vs-dynamic-withdrawals/

Don’t Let the Tax Tail Wag the DogTax decisions matter, but they should support your financial life, not control it. Cha...
06/24/2026

Don’t Let the Tax Tail Wag the Dog

Tax decisions matter, but they should support your financial life, not control it. Chasing short-term tax moves without a broader strategy can sometimes create more complexity than value.
The goal is not just reducing taxes today. It is making decisions that still make sense years from now.

Explore the full article:
https://lnkd.in/e5yhvs57

Q1 2026 Halftime Report from Penobscot Financial Advisors. In this quarterly market update, Sam Chaplin and Jim Bradley ...
06/18/2026

Q1 2026 Halftime Report from Penobscot Financial Advisors. In this quarterly market update, Sam Chaplin and Jim Bradley take a closer look at the forces shaping today’s economic landscape, with particular attention to rising geopolitical tensions and their implications for markets, energy prices, and the broader outlook. Their conversation is grounded in perspective—drawing on data, historical context, and a longer-term view of how markets tend to respond in periods of uncertainty.

Check it out! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABuP74Ratm8&t=2s

Who is PFA and What Do You Do? 🤔We get this question a lot, and we're happy to answer!We're a Maine-based, fee-only fidu...
06/17/2026

Who is PFA and What Do You Do? 🤔

We get this question a lot, and we're happy to answer!

We're a Maine-based, fee-only fiduciary firm that's been helping people achieve their financial goals. No commissions. No product sales. Just honest, transparent advice.

Watch our team explain what we do and how we work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyAxeKmznBY

Address

1 Monument Square Suite 501
Portland, ME
04101

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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